On the Elbe, a river that crosses the Czech Republic and Germany, the ‘hunger stones’, symbols of the droughts that have plagued Europe throughout history, have reappeared.
Like a bad omen. One of the “Hunger Stones,” a sign of the extreme drought ravaging Europe today, is said to have reappeared in the Czech Republic city of Děčín.
Huivering weekend. Door de droogte in Europese rivieren come he Hungersteine bovendrijven. Macabere waarschuwingen van onze 15e eeuwse voorouders over Hongersnood.
‘If you see me, cry’https://t.co/kbo03caaZX pic.twitter.com/CMTCMvfQQp
—Olaf Koens (@obk) August 11, 2022
Exposed for lack of water, this stone reads, “If you see me, cry!”, a message engraved during the 1616 drought.
Other dates are also noted. “Before 1900, the following droughts are commemorated on the stone: 1417, 1616, 1707, 1746, 1790, 1800, 1811, 1830, 1842, 1868, 1892 and 1893,” says a study by Czech researchers.
symbols of the past
Beyond the drought, these stones also commemorate other dark moments in history, crop failures but also famines.
The last appearance of these stones dates back to 2018, when a severe drought hit the banks of the Elbe. According to the American news agency Associated Press, a dozen stones had then appeared in their entirety.